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By: Brian KnappMar 31, 2013

Ken
Shamrock has not fought in more than two years. | Photo: Jeff
Sherwood/Sherdog.com

Two of the elder statesmen in mixed martial arts are expected to do
battle this summer in England, as
Ultimate Fighting Championship hall of famer Ken Shamrock
and Ian
Freeman have verbally agreed to face one another under the
Ultimate Cage Fighting Championships banner on July 27 at Keepmoat
Stadium in Doncaster.

Contracts have not yet been signed.

Shamrock, 49, began his MMA career in 1993 and quickly became one
of the sport’s first stars thanks to successful careers inside both
the Pancrase
ring and the UFC Octagon, as he defeated the likes of Masakatsu
Funaki, Bas Rutten,
Dan
Severn and Kimo
Leopoldo. However, the second half of Shamrock’s fighting
career hardly resembled the first, as “The World’s Most Dangerous
Man” was defeated in 10 of his last 14 outings. The Lion’s Den
founder last competed in November 2010, when he was stopped by
Mike
Bourke in two minutes at King of the Cage “Platinum.”

Freeman has not competed since May 2008, when he earned a unanimous
decision over Paul Cahoon
at Cage Rage 26 and captured the promotion’s British light
heavyweight title. The 42-year-old made his professional debut in
1999 and his first appearance inside the Octagon came the following
year, submitting to a Scott Adams
heel hook at UFC 24. “The Machine” owns 15 of his 19 career wins by
knockout, technical knockout or submission and is likely best known
for handing future UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir his
first defeat back in 2002.